Web drier with zigzag runs



Feb. 3, 1948. A. RANCOURT 2,435,408

WEB DRIER WITH ZIG-ZAG RUNS Filed Oct. 4, 1946 r" "w J N f f INVENTOR. 1d Z X m5.

(7 lay/Q Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEB DRIER WITH ZIGZAG RUNS Alphonse Rancourt, Pittsfield, Mass., assignor to Bradford 0. Dennis, Pittsfield, Mass.

Application October 4, 1946, Serial No.'701,155

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for heating and drying material in web form such as for instance fabric or the like.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to improvements in apparatus for drying continuous webs of material that is characterized by means for conveying a web through the apparatus in combination with heating means and passageways arranged to provide a flow of heated air in a direction opposite to that of the web thereby to obtain the desired heating and drying effect.

With the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claim hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevational view through the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a drying apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

A compartment 2 is formed from lower, upper, side and end Walls 4, 6, 8 and H]. The walls may be made to have insulating characteristics and the lower wall may be supported by a floor or the like.

Entrance rolls l2 and [4 for supporting a web W are provided with the upper one being disposed adjacent an entrance opening I6. Discharge rolls I8 and 20 are provided with the upper one disposed adjacent a discharge opening 22.

Other rolls 24 are provided within the compartment and are arranged'to support and carry a web of material through the compartment from the inlet Hi to the outlet 22. Thus a continuous web may be led into the compartment and back and forth therein and out the outlet 22.

The rolls may be supported for rotation in any well known manner but in the drawings, shafts 26 of the rolls are journalled in bearings 28 supported by a frame construction 30 at either side of the machine.

A plurality of baffles 36 are provided that are disposed in vertical spaced relation. Alternate baflles extend from opposite end walls of the compartments and terminate inwardly from rolls 24. The arrangement is such that a plurality of interconnected horizontal passageways are provided through which a horizontal run of material may pass with each passageway connected to an adjacent passageway, as shown. In this way, air may. circulate back and forth in a direction opposite to that in which a web is traveling through the apparatus. As shown, the baffles 36 extend from the walls I 0 in an upwardly inclined relation so as to facilitate the free flow of heated air upwardly of the apparatus from one passageway to the one next above.

Heating means which may consist of interconnected pipes 40 are provided with the pipes provided with radiating fins 42. The construction is such as to provide a heating unit or units in the lower part of the compartment and horizontal baffles 44 over the heating unit have ends spaced from the end walls l0 so that heated air passes upwardly and through the upper passageways for the heating and drying function.

A damper 48 is provided in connection with an opening 50 whereby the circulation of heated air upwardly through the compartment may be controlled and regulated.

As will be observed, a continuous web of material such as woolen cloth or the like may be conveyed back and forth and downwardly through the compartment, preferably in separate runs while heated air may flow upwardly in a direction opposite to that of the web all to the end that the most efficient heating and drying operation is accomplished.

The heating elements may be supplied with steam so as to obtain the desired temperature while the damper 48 may be adjusted to accomplish the required movement of heated air.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, opposite and adjacent lower, upper, side and end walls forming a closed compartment, one end wall adjacent its upper end having an entrance slot for a web of cloth and the opposite end wall having an outlet slot below the plane of said entrance slot, a row of rolls rotatable 2,435,405 I .7 l 3 4 t on horizontal axes disposed in vertically spaced most horizontal passageway, and the opposite end re atio adjacent said end walls and between said wall having an inlet for air leading into said lower s ots o guiding a Web Of material frOm Said portion of the compartment, said heating means trance slot back and forth in horizontal runs to including a continuous conduit for steam havin S d Outlet Slot, S id r0118 O o e ow ha ng their I spaced runs disposed in parallelism with said rolls longitudinal axes disposed in horizontal planes and provided with radiating fins. 7 intermediate corresponding planes of the rolls of ALPHONSE RANCOURT. V V the other row, substantially. horizontal U bafil es o a spaced vertically in said compartment secured to s I r H v i atmmets fcitsepi; said Side Walls said bames inclining upwardly The following references are of record in the from said end walls and above the rolls adjacent,- fjfile of this patgntz thereto to the longitudinal axes of the rolls ad 7 jacent opposite end walls and terminating-wad;- 171""- WUNITED STATES PATENTS jacent thereto providing horizontal passagewasgs Numb Name t connected at the ends thereof adjacents aiti 13011 15 4 'e' Arm 4, 137 heating means in the lower portion of said comgpgo L'ane Nov. 1, 3 partment, and a baffle extending betweerrsaidside I: I 3101; 35:315; n h et a1 7 193 walls and terminating at a distance from said end "am i FOREIGN PATENTS walls providing upwardly extending passageways at opposite ends there oiior heatedair from said 20 Number p Date r: PQ F Qnl th Wate m n 

